BOND UNIVERSITY QAFLW RESERVES GRAND FINAL MATCH REPORT

Sunday 27 August 2023, 12pm at Brighton Homes Arena, Springfield

Bond University 9.7 (61) d Coorparoo 4.2 (26)

Coorparoo

Goals: Gabby Fares 2; Kelsey Crosbie; Courtney Alder.

Best: none named

Bond University

Goals: Isabelle Lowe 4; Tshinta Kendall 2; Ash Russell; Evy Reeves; Shannon Nolan

Best: Shannon Nolan; Sophie Balcombe; Georgia Wakefield; Jessica Nguyen; Tshinta Kendall; Isabelle Lowe.

Best on Ground: Shannon Nolan (Bond University)

Bond University became the first club to win the QAFLW Reserve Grade competition three times when they defeated Coorparoo by 35 points in the grand final at Brighton Homes Arena.

Bull Sharks’ inside midfielder Shannon Nolan was named Best on Ground for her constant presence in midfield and a brilliant goal late in the third quarter when she stepped around two defenders to score from 25 metres out.

The Bull Sharks’ other hero was full forward Isabelle Lowe who scored twice from set shots and twice from open play.

Coorparoo were unable to break through the Bull Sharks defence in the first half but had their moments in the third quarter which resulted in a soccered goal to forward Gabriella Abi-Fares. The Kings ended up winning the final term three goals to two with set shot goals to Kelsey Crosbie and Courtney Alder followed by a second goal to Abi-Fares.

The most spectacular goal of the match was scored by forward Evy Reeves in the third term. Sunny Hewett gathered the ball from a boundary throw-in at left halfback and worked up the left side through Lowe before Reeves took two bounces on her way to goal.

Bull Sharks coach Gough Greer praised his team’s resilience throughout the season.

“We’ve had so many ins and outs all year, we had games with no subs, and to put together the season that we have has just been incredible.”

With the win of their Seniors team later in the day, Bond University became the first club to win both grades of the Bond University QAFLW in the one year.